Why your website is not in the top 3 SERP results

Your website is on page two of Google, or worse, not visible at all in the SERP results. This scenario is probably familiar to you, and you are not the only one. Thousands of website owners struggle daily with why their carefully crafted content is not reaching the top 3 positions that are so important for organic traffic.

The reality is that less than 1% of users to the second page of Google. This means that if your website is not in the top 10, you are practically invisible. But why is your website lagging behind while competitors are getting those coveted positions?

Key insights from this article:

• Technical SEO problems are often the biggest barrier to higher rankings
• Content that does not match search intent is devalued by Google
• A weak backlink profile significantly undermines your website authority
• SERP monitoring requires specific tools and strategic analysis
• Systematic optimisation of technology, content and link building leads to measurable results

Technical SEO issues blocking your ranking

Google's crawlers are sophisticated programmes that constantly explore the web, but they have specific requirements. If your website poses technical obstacles, these automated systems cannot properly understand or index your content.

Loading speed constitutes one of the most underestimated ranking factors. Websites that load longer than three seconds not only lose visitors but are also rated as less user-friendly by Google. This problem often arises due to:

• Unoptimised images that are too large
• Excess plugins and scripts burdening the server
• Poor hosting with slow response times
• Lack of caching mechanisms

Mobile optimisation is no longer an option, it is a requirement. Google uses mobile-first indexing, which means that the mobile version of your website is judged primarily. Websites without responsive design or with mobile usability issues are automatically ranked lower.

Crawlability problems occur when Google's bots cannot fully explore your website. This happens because of:

• Incorrect robots.txt configuration
• Broken internal link structures
• Pages not accessible via navigation
• Server-errors blocking crawling

Indexing problems are subtle but devastating. You can technically do everything right, but if Google decides that your pages are not valuable enough to include in the index, you remain invisible. This is often due to duplicate content, thin content, or pages that do not add clear value.

Why your content does not meet search intent

Google's algorithms have evolved from simple keyword-matching to sophisticated intent recognition. It is no longer enough to put the right keywords in your content; you need to understand the underlying need of the searcher and respond accordingly.

Search intent falls into four main categories, each requiring a different approach:

Google rates content based on what they call E-A-T: Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Your content should demonstrate that you actually understand the topic, that you are a trusted source, and that users can trust your information.

Many websites make the mistake of creating content from their own perspective rather than from the user's. They describe their products or services without addressing the problems users actually want to solve. This mismatch results in high bounce rates and low dwell time, signals that Google interprets as an indication that your content is not relevant.

Keyword relevance goes beyond simply using search terms. Google's Natural Language Processing understands synonyms, context, and related concepts. Content that naturally and comprehensively addresses a topic, using semantically related terms, performs better than content that forcibly repeats keywords.

Lack of authority and backlink profile weaknesses

Domain authority is not an official Google metric, but the concept behind it, website authority, does play a role in rankings. Google assesses the reliability and expertise of your website based on several signals, of which backlinks are the most influential.

Quality backlinks act as votes of confidence from other websites. But not all links are equal. One link from a respected, relevant website in your industry outweighs dozens of links from irrelevant or low-quality websites.

Many websites have a weak link profile due to:

• Lack of linkable assets (content that naturally attracts links)
• No active outreach to relevant websites
• Poor internal link structure not distributing PageRank properly
• Historical focus on quantity over quality of links

Google's algorithms can detect and penalise artificial link building. Websites that engage in link schemes, bought links, or other manipulative practices run the risk of penalties that can seriously damage their rankings.

A healthy backlink profile is characterised by diversity in link types, natural growth over time, and links from websites that are thematically related to your content. Building such a profile requires time, patience, and a strategic approach focused on creating valuable content and building relationships within your industry.

How to actually measure your SERP performance

Effective SERP monitoring goes beyond occasionally checking where your website ranks for a few keywords. It requires systematic tracking, analysis of trends, and understanding of the various SERP features that can affect your visibility.

Google Search Console forms the basis of any SEO monitoring strategy. This free tool gives you instant insights into how Google sees your website, which queries are generating traffic, and where technical problems are occurring. Key metrics to monitor are:

• Impressions and click-through rates per query
• Average position for your most important keywords
• Coverage issues blocking indexing
• Core Web Vitals scores for user experience

SERP features such as featured snippets, local packs, and knowledge panels can drastically affect your organic visibility, even if your ranking position remains the same. A featured snippet can double your click-through rate, while a competitor obtaining a knowledge panel can take away a lot of your potential traffic.

Rank tracking tools offer more detailed insights than Search Console alone. They can track local rankings, monitor competitor movements, and store historical data for trend analysis. However, don't just focus on absolute positions; CTR and traffic are ultimately more important than ranking positions per se.

Competitive analysis helps you understand why other websites perform better. By analysing their content strategy, technical implementation, and backlink profiles, you can identify gaps in your own approach and discover opportunities you have overlooked.

Concrete steps towards top 3 ranking

Achieving top 3 positions requires a systematic approach that combines technical optimisation, content excellence, and authority building. Always start with a thorough audit of your current situation before implementing optimisations.

Technical SEO priorities:

1. Optimise loading speed by compressing images and implementing caching
2. Ensure full mobile-responsiveness and good mobile user experience
3. Fix all crawl errors and ensure a logical internal link structure
4. Implement structured data to help Google better understand your content
5. Optimise your URL structure for both users and search engines

Content optimisation requires a strategic approach. Analyse the top three results for your target keywords and identify what makes their content successful. Then create content that:

• Goes deeper into the topic than existing content
• Better matches the specific search intent
• Providing a superior user experience
• Adds unique insights or perspectives

Link building should be organic and strategic. Focus on creating linkable assets such as original research, comprehensive guides, or tools that add value to your industry. Combine this with outreach to relevant websites and building relationships with influencers and thought leaders in your industry.

SEO optimisation is not a one-off activity but an ongoing process. Track your rankings, analyse what works and what doesn't, and adjust your strategy based on results and changing algorithms. Websites that consistently invest in quality improvement ultimately see the best results.

For companies that are serious about getting their online visibility right, professional SEO support can make the difference between years of trial-and-error and targeted, measurable progress towards those coveted top 3 positions.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take for SEO changes to affect my rankings?

SEO results vary greatly depending on the type of change. Technical fixes can take effect within a few weeks, while content optimisations and link building often take 3-6 months to fully impact your rankings.

Can I perform SEO myself without technical knowledge?

Basic SEO optimisations are certainly possible without in-depth technical knowledge, but for advanced technical SEO, structured data implementation, and complex website optimisations, technical expertise is often indispensable for optimal results.

Why do my rankings fluctuate constantly, even without changes to my website?

Google's algorithm is constantly being updated and refined. In addition, competitors adjust their websites, user behaviour changes, and new websites are launched. These dynamics cause natural ranking fluctuations, even without changes to your own website.

Is it possible to have too high expectations for SEO results?

Absolutely. SEO is not a magic solution that leads to top rankings immediately. Realistic expectations are important: focus on gradual improvement, increased visibility, and better user experience rather than solely on ranking positions.

How important are social media signals for SEO rankings?

Although Google officially states that social media signals are not a direct ranking factor, they can indirectly contribute to SEO success by raising brand awareness, generating traffic, and creating opportunities for natural link building.